Motor performance and correlates of mental health in children who are deaf or hard of hearing

Matthäus J Fellinger, Daniel Holzinger, Martin Aigner, Christoph Beitel, Johannes Fellinger

Research output: Journal article (peer-reviewed)Journal article

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

AIM: This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between motor performance and mental health in a representative population of children with hearing impairment.

METHOD: Ninety-three pupils (45 males, 48 females) aged 6 years to 16 years (mean 11 y 3 mo, SD 2 y 9 mo) with hearing impairment of at least 40 dB and a Nonverbal IQ greater than 70 were assessed for motor performance with the Zürich Neuromotor Assessment (ZNA) and for mental health with the parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

RESULTS: Children with hearing impairment had lower motor performance scores in all four ZNA subscales compared with ZNA norms (z-scores -1.42 to -2.67). After controlling for Nonverbal IQ, ZNA pure motor performance correlated negatively with the SDQ total difficulties score. Pure motor, pegboard, and dynamic balance subscales correlated negatively with peer-relationship problems. Dynamic balance correlated negatively with emotional problems. Performance in pure motor and dynamic balance skills correlated negatively with age. Except for static balance, no correlation was found between motor performance and the degree of hearing impairment.

INTERPRETATION: Results confirm that a high percentage of children with hearing impairment have poor motor performance. These problems are associated with difficulties in social relationships. Early recognition of these problems may lead to interventions to assist children with hearing impairment with their peer relationships.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)942-947
Number of pages6
JournalDevelopmental Medicine and Child Neurology
Volume57
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Oct 2015

Keywords

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Hearing Loss/epidemiology
  • Hearing Tests
  • Humans
  • Intelligence Tests
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders/epidemiology
  • Movement Disorders/epidemiology
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology (clinical)
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

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